Image display device

ABSTRACT

An image display device includes front and rear covers which surround a display panel and a plurality of connection members connected to the display panel and connected to each of the covers. Thereby, the display panel has a bezel part having a narrow width, and the front and rear covers are easily fixed to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0110597, filed on Nov. 17, 2009 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to an image display device having animproved connection structure of a front cover and a rear coversurrounding a display panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

As replacements for a conventional cathode ray tube (CRT), image displaydevices having various display panels, such as a liquid crystal display(LCD) panel, a plasma display panel (PDP), and a light emitting diode(LED) panel, have been developed.

These image display devices have been developed in light of slim andlight-weight trends in order to obtain competitive power. Particularly,a reduction in a width (hereinafter, referred to as bezel) from theouter line of a display panel to an active area where an image isactually displayed so as to reduce the outer size of an image displaydevice is progressing.

In general, an image display device includes a display panel, such as anLCD, a PDP, or an LED, and a front cover and a rear cover surroundingfront and rear parts of the display panel, and connection between thedisplay panel and the front and rear covers is achieved by arranging thedisplay panel between the front cover and the rear cover and then fixingthe front and rear covers to the display panel using screws.

Therefore, a designated bezel width is required so as to form connectionholes to be connected to the screws through the edge of the displaypanel. Accordingly, it may be difficult to reduce the outer size of theimage display device.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the exemplary embodiments to provide animage display device having connection members to connect a displaypanel with a bezel part having a narrow width and front and rear covers.

It is another aspect of the exemplary embodiments to provide an imagedisplay device having a connection structure which enables a displaypanel and front and rear covers to be easily assembled and disassembled.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the exemplary embodiments.

In accordance with one aspect of an exemplary embodiment, an imagedisplay device includes a display panel, a front cover and a rear coversurrounding the display panel, and a plurality of connection membersinserted into designated parts of an edge of the display panel, each ofthe connection members including a first connection part connected withthe front cover and a second connection part connected with the rearcover, wherein the front cover and the rear cover are respectively fixedto the connection members through the first connection part and thesecond connection part.

A plurality of latching hooks may be disposed at an edge of a rearsurface of the front cover, and the first connection parts may includean elastic latching part which elastically deforms when the elasticlatching part enters a lower part of one of the plurality of latchinghooks from an upper part of the one latching hook and which is supportedby the one latching hook to restrict upward movement of the displaypanel toward the upper part of the one latching hook.

The second connection part may include a through hole corresponding toone of a plurality of respective holes disposed at the rear cover, andthe rear cover may be fixed to the plurality of connection membersthrough fastening members, which are fastened to the through hole of thesecond connection part and one of the plurality of holes disposed at therear cover.

When the plurality of connection members slide along the edge of thedisplay panel, the elastic latching part of the one connection membermay be released from the one latching hook.

A position fixing part may be disposed at one of the plurality ofconnection members so as to restrict sliding movement of the oneconnection member, when the one connection member is inserted into thedisplay panel.

The position fixing part may include a fixing hole into which one of aplurality of fixing protrusions disposed on the display panel isinserted.

A guide part may be disposed at the one connection member to guiderectilinear movement of the one connection member when the oneconnection member slides along the edge of the display panel.

The guide part may include a guide hole connected to a guide protrusiondisposed on the display panel.

In accordance with an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, an imagedisplay device includes a display panel, a front cover surrounding afront part of the display panel, and including a plurality of latchinghooks formed at an edge of a rear surface thereof, a rear coversurrounding a rear part of the display panel, and including a pluralityof screw holes, and a plurality of connection members, one of theconnection members comprising a main body comprising an insertion groovesurrounding a part of an edge of the display panel so as to connect thedisplay panel to the front cover and the rear cover, an elastic latchingpart disposed at one side of the main body and connected to one of theplurality of latching hooks of the front cover, and a through holedisposed at the other side of the main body and connected to one of theplurality of holes of the rear cover.

The plurality of connection members may be fixed to the display panel byinserting the part of the edge of the display panel into the insertiongroove.

The insertion groove may include a front support part to support a frontsurface of the display panel, a side support part extending at an anglefrom one end of the front support part to surround a side surface of thedisplay panel, and a rear support part extending at an angle from oneend of the side support part to support a rear surface of the displaypanel.

The front support part may have a smaller size than that of the rearsupport part, and include a flange part protruded upwardly from theother end of the front support part, the flange part being received in aflange seat groove disposed on the display panel.

The elastic latching part may be elastically deformed when the elasticlatching part enters a lower part of the one latching hook from an upperpart of the one latching hook and may be supported by the one latchinghook so as to fix the display panel to the front cover.

The elastic latching part may be provided with a distal protruding endcut out and protruding from one side of the side support part.

The rear cover may be connected to the one connection member by afastening member connected to one of the plurality of holes of the rearcover and the through hole of the one connection member.

A fixing protrusion may be provided on the rear part of the displaypanel and a fixing hole may be formed on the one connection member, andthe fixing hole may be connected to the fixing protrusion when the oneconnection member is mounted on the display panel.

A guide protrusion may be provided on the rear part of the display paneland a guide hole may be formed the one connection member, and the guideprotrusion may be connected to the guide hole.

The guide projection may slide along the guide hole in a directionparallel to the edge of the display panel.

When the one connection member slides along the guide protrusion, theelastic latching part of the one connection member may be released fromthe one latching hook.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, an image displaydevice includes a display panel; a pair of covers substantiallyenclosing the display panel; a plurality of connection members, one ofwhich comprises a substantially U-shaped main body disposed over andslidable along an edge of the display panel; and a latching hookprovided on an inner surface of one of the covers and attachable to theone connection member when the one connection member slides along theedge of the display panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connectionstructure of a display panel and covers of an image display device inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a connection member connectedto the display panel of the image display device in accordance with theexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a separation state of theconnection member from the display panel of the image display device inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a connecting operation of theconnection member to the display panel of the image display device inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views illustrating connection relations between afront cover and the connection member of the image display device inaccordance with the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating connection relations between a rear coverand the connection member of the image display device in accordance withthe exemplary embodiment; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views illustrating a releasing operation of an elasticlatching part of the connection member from a latching hook of the frontcover in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinlike reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connectionstructure of a display panel and covers of an image display device inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective viewillustrating a connection member connected to the display panel of theimage display device in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a separation state of the connectionmember from the display panel of the image display device in accordancewith the exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective viewillustrating a connecting operation of the connection member to thedisplay panel of the image display device in accordance with theexemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image display device 10 in accordance with theexemplary embodiment includes a display panel 30 to display an image, afront cover 20 arranged in front of the display panel 30, and a rearcover 40 surrounding the rear part of the display panel 30.

The display panel 30 serving to display an image may include an LCDdisplaying an image using liquid crystals or a PDP displaying an imageusing plasma generated by electric discharge.

The display panel 30 includes a case 31 formed approximately in theshape of an box, and houses a PDP module or an LCD module to which lightis irradiated by a backlight unit including, for example, cathodefluorescent lamps or LEDs. In the case of a backlight unit using theLEDs as a light source, the backlight unit may be provided as a directtype or an edge type.

A display part 32 to display data corresponding to a signal, and a bezelpart 33 located at the outside of the display part 32 are provided onthe front surface of the display panel 30.

The bezel part 33 has a width W from the outer peripheral edge of thedisplay panel 30 to the display part 32 where an image is actuallydisplayed. In this exemplary embodiment, the bezel part 33 of thedisplay panel 30 does not require separate fastening structures, such asscrew fastening holes, to be connected with counterparts, and thus thewidth of the bezel part 33 may be narrowed.

Such a display panel 30 may be fixed to the front cover 20 and the rearcover 40 under the condition that the display panel 30 is arranged in areception space formed between the front cover 20 and the rear cover 40.

For this purpose, clamp-type connection members 50 to fix the displaypanel 30 to the front cover 20 and the rear cover 40 are detachablyprovided at the edge of the display panel 30.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the connection members 50includes a main body 52 provided with a front support part 53 to supporta part of the bezel part 33 arranged on the front surface of the displaypanel 30 so as to form an insertion groove 51 into which a part of theedge of the display panel 30 is inserted, a side support part 54extending at a substantially perpendicular angle from one end of thefront support part 53 to surround a part of a side surface 38 of thedisplay panel 30, and a rear support part 55 extending at asubstantially perpendicular angle from one end of the side support part54 to support a part of a rear surface 35 of the display panel 30.

The insertion groove 51 provided on the main body 52 may be formed in ashape corresponding to the edge of the display panel 30 by cutting orbending a metal plate.

Further, the insertion groove 51 may be provided with a designatedelasticity so as to enable the connection member 50 to be fixed to theedge of the display panel 30 through pressing.

By inserting a part of the edge of the display panel 30 into theinsertion groove 51, the connection member 50 may be connected to thepart of the edge of the display panel 30.

A length L₁ of the front support part 53 extended from the side supportpart 54 may be smaller than a length L₂ of the rear support part 55extended from the side support part 54 so as to facilitate insertion ofthe connection member 50 into the display panel 30.

A flange part 57 extended upwardly from the other end of the frontsupport part 53 is provided on the front support part 53, and a flangeseat groove 34, into which the flange part 57 is inserted and seated, isprovided in the lengthwise direction on the bezel part 33 formed on thefront surface of the display panel 30

Therethrough, when the connection member 50 is rotated under thecondition that the flange part 57 of the connection member 50 isinserted and seated into the flange seat groove 34 of the display panel30, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body 52 is rotated around the flangeseat groove 34 and the edge of the display panel 30 is inserted into theinsertion groove 51, simultaneously.

Further, a position fixing part 80 may be provided on the connectionmember 50, as shown in FIG. 2. The position fixing part 80 determines aposition of the connection member 50 inserted into the display panel 30if the connection member 50 is inserted into a part of the edge of thedisplay panel 30 and restricts sliding movement of the connection member50 if the connection member 50 has been connected to the display panel30, simultaneously.

Although the position fixing part 80 is formed in any shape which may beconnected with a latching structure provided on the display panel 30 soas to restrict movement of the connection member 50 along the edge ofthe display panel 30, the position fixing part 80 may include a throughhole 81 formed through a designated part of the rear support part 55, asshown in FIG. 2.

If the position fixing part 80 includes the through hole 81, a fixingprotrusion 36 connected to the through hole 81 may be provided at a partof the rear surface 35 of the display panel 30, as shown in FIG. 3.

Therefore, when the connection member 50 is connected to the displaypanel 30, the fixing protrusion 36 is inserted into the through hole 81formed through the connection member 50, thereby restricting movement ofthe connection member 50.

Although this exemplary embodiment illustrates that the position fixingpart 80 includes the through hole 81, the position fixing part 80 may beformed in the shape of a fixing protrusion or a latching rib. In thiscase, a latching structure corresponding to the fixing protrusion or thelatching rib may be provided on the display panel 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection member 50 further includes a firstconnection part 60 to be connected with the front cover 20, and a secondconnection part 70 to be connected with the rear cover 40.

That is, the front and rear covers 20 and 40 surrounding the front andrear parts of the display panel 30 are connected to each other throughthe connection members 50 mounted on the display panel 30, therebyfixing the display panel 30 arranged between the front cover 20 and therear cover 40.

For this purpose, a plurality of latching hooks 23 (with reference toFIG. 1) are provided on the edge of a rear surface 21 of the front cover20, and the first connection part 60 to be connected with the frontcover 20 includes an elastic latching part 61 connected with each of thelatching hooks 23.

The elastic latching part 61 is formed integrally with the side supportpart 54 so as to be provided with a free terminal 62, which is cut offfrom one side of the side support part 54 of the main body 52 and isprotruded.

Thereby, the front cover 20 and the display panel 30 are easilyconnected simply by seating the display panel 30 on the rear surface 21of the front cover 20.

That is, if the display panel 30 is seated on the rear surface 21 of thefront cover 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the elastic latching part 61 of theconnection member 50 enters the lower part of the latching hook 23 fromthe upper part of the latching hook 23. Thus, as the elastic latchingpart 61 is elastically deformed by the latching hook 23, the freeterminal 62 of the elastic latching part 61 is supported by the latchinghook 23, as shown in FIG. 6.

Therefore, upward movement of the display panel 30 connected to thefront cover 20 to the upper part of the latching hook 23 is restrictedby the elastic latching part 61 supported by the latching hook 23, andhorizontal movement of the display panel 30 is restricted by the plurallatching hooks 23. Accordingly, the display panel 30 is firmly connectedto the front cover 20.

Further, since the display panel 30 is fixed to the front cover 20through the connection members 50, the bezel part 33 of the displaypanel 30 does not require any connection part to be connected with thefront cover 20, and thus the width of the bezel part 33 may be narrowed.

Although this exemplary embodiment illustrates that the first connectionpart 60 includes the elastic latching part 61 connected with thelatching hook 23 provided on the rear surface 21 of the front cover 20,the first connection part 60 may include different structures hooked tothe front cover 20 or structures to enable connection of the front cover20 and the connection member 50, such as a screw connection.

However, if the front cover 20 is very glossy, the first connection part60 may include a hook connection structure to prevent surfacedeformation of the front cover 20 due to screw fastening force.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, the second connection part 70 providedon the connection member 50 to be connected with the rear cover 40includes a through hole 71 to which a screw is fastened.

The through hole 71 is formed through the upper surface of a protrusionpart 56 protruded outwardly from one side of the side support part 54 ofthe main body 52.

A plurality of screw holes 41 is provided on the rear cover 40surrounding the rear part of the display panel 30 at positionscorresponding to the through holes 71 of the connection members 50.

Therefore, the rear cover 40 is firmly fixed to the connection members50 by inserting fastening members 42, such as screws, into the screwholes 41 of the rear cover 40 and the through holes 71 of the connectionmembers 50.

Although this embodiment illustrates that the second connection part 70connected with the rear cover 40 includes the through hole 71, thesecond connection part 70 may include a hook structure similar to thatof the first connection part 60.

However, in order to facilitate disassembly of the image display device10 for serviceability, the second connection part 70 may include a screwconnection structure.

Further, in order to facilitate separation of the display panel 30 fromthe front cover 20, the connection members 50 may be provided such thatthey slide along the edge of the display panel 30.

With reference to FIG. 2, a guide part 90 to guide stable rectilinearmovement of the connection member 50 when the connection member 50slides along the edge of the display panel 30 may be provided on themain body 52 of the connection member 50

The guide part 90 includes a long guide hole 91, which is extended inthe lengthwise direction, formed at one side of the rear support part55. If the connection member 50 is connected to the display panel 30, aguide protrusion 37 formed at a part of the rear surface 35 of thedisplay panel 30 is inserted into the guide hole 91, as shown in FIG. 8.

Although this exemplary embodiment illustrates that the guide part 90provided on the connection member 50 includes the guide hole 91, theguide part 90 may include a guide protrusion and guide holes, to whichthe guide protrusions of the guide parts 90 of the connection members 50are inserted.

Therefore, when a designated force is applied to the connection member50, as shown in FIG. 9, the connection member 50 is separated from thefixing protrusion 36 and slides along the guide protrusion 37 at theedge of the display panel 30, and thereby the elastic latching part 61is released from the latching hook 23 provided on the front cover 20.

Thereafter, when the display panel 30 is lifted from the front cover 20,the display panel 30 is easily separated from the front cover 20.

As is apparent from the above description, in an image display device inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment, a display panel, a frontcover, and a rear cover are connected through connection members,thereby reducing the width of a bezel part of the display panel and thusreducing the overall size of the image display device.

Further, in the image display device in accordance with this exemplaryembodiment, the front cover and the display panel are connected by hookstructures of the connection members, thereby preventing surfacedeformation of the front cover due to screw connection.

Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, itwould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may bemade in these exemplary embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the inventive concept, the scope of which isdefined in the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image display device comprising: a displaypanel; a front cover and a rear cover surrounding the display panel; anda plurality of connection members inserted into designated parts of anedge of the display panel, each of the plurality of connection memberscomprising a first connection part connected with the front cover and asecond connection part connected with the rear cover, wherein the frontcover and the rear cover are respectively fixed to the plurality ofconnection members through the first connection part and the secondconnection part.
 2. The image display device according to claim 1,wherein a plurality of latching hooks are disposed at an edge of a rearsurface of the front cover, and the first connection part comprises anelastic latching part which elastically deforms when the elasticlatching part enters a lower part of one of the plurality of latchinghooks from an upper part of the one latching hook and which is supportedby the one latching hook to restrict upward movement of the displaypanel toward the upper part of the one latching hook.
 3. The imagedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the second connection partcomprises a through hole corresponding to one of a plurality of holesdisposed at the rear cover, and the rear cover is fixed to the pluralityof connection members through fastening members, which are fastened tothe through hole of the second connection part and one of the pluralityof holes disposed at the rear cover.
 4. The image display deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein, when the plurality of connection membersslide along the edge of the display panel, the elastic latching part ofthe plurality of connection members is released from the one latchinghook.
 5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein aposition fixing part is disposed at one of the plurality of connectionmembers so as to restrict sliding movement of the one connection member,when the one connection member is inserted into the display panel. 6.The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the positionfixing part comprises a fixing hole into which one of a plurality offixing protrusions disposed on the display panel is inserted.
 7. Theimage display device according to claim 4, wherein a guide part isdisposed on one of the plurality of connection members to guide stablerectilinear movement of the one connection member when the oneconnection member slides along the edge of the display panel.
 8. Theimage display device according to claim 7, wherein the guide partcomprises a guide hole connected to a guide protrusion provided on thedisplay panel.
 9. An image display device comprising: a display panel; afront cover surrounding a front part of the display panel, andcomprising a plurality of latching hooks formed at an edge of a rearsurface of the front cover; a rear cover surrounding a rear part of thedisplay panel, and comprising a plurality of holes; and a plurality ofconnection members comprising a plurality of main bodies, one of theplurality of main bodies comprising an insertion groove surrounding apart of an edge of the display panel so as to connect the display panelto the front cover and the rear cover, an elastic latching part disposedat one side of the main body and connected to one of the plurality oflatching hooks of the front cover, and a through hole disposed atanother side of the main body and connected to one of the plurality ofholes of the rear cover.
 10. The image display device according to claim9, wherein of the plurality of connection members are fixed to thedisplay panel by inserting the part of the edge of the display panelinto the insertion groove.
 11. The image display device according toclaim 10, wherein the insertion groove comprises a front support part tosupport a front surface of the display panel, a side support partextending at an angle from one end of the front support part to surrounda side surface of the display panel, and a rear support part extendingat an angle from one end of the side support part to support a rearsurface of the display panel.
 12. The image display device according toclaim 11, wherein the front support part is smaller than the rearsupport part, and comprises a flange part protruded upwardly fromanother end of the front support part, the flange part being received ina flange seat groove disposed on the display panel.
 13. The imagedisplay device according to claim 11, wherein the elastic latching partis elastically deformed when the elastic latching part enters a lowerpart of the one latching hook from an upper part of the one latchinghook and is supported by the one latching hook so as to fix the displaypanel to the front cover.
 14. The image display device according toclaim 13, wherein the elastic latching part is provided with a distalprotruding end cut out and protruded from one side of the side supportpart.
 15. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein therear cover is connected to the one connection member by a fasteningmember connected to one of the plurality of holes of the rear cover andthe through hole of the one connection member.
 16. The image displaydevice according to claim 9, wherein a fixing protrusion is disposed onthe rear part of the display panel and a fixing hole is disposed on theone connection member, and the fixing hole is connected to the fixingprotrusion when the one connection member is mounted on the displaypanel.
 17. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein aguide protrusion is are disposed on the rear part of the display paneland a guide hole is formed on the one connection member, and the guideprotrusion is connected to the guide hole.
 18. The image display deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein the guide protrusion slides along theguide hole in a direction parallel to the edge of the display panel. 19.The image display device according to claim 18, wherein, when the oneconnection member slides along the guide protrusion, the elasticlatching part of the one connection member is released from the onelatching hook.
 20. An image display device comprising: a display panel;a pair of covers substantially enclosing the display panel; a pluralityof connection members, one of which comprises a substantially U-shapedmain body disposed over and slidable along an edge of the display panel;and a latching hook disposed on an inner surface of one of the coversand attachable to the one connection member when the connection memberslides along the edge of the display panel.